For Kat: Nathan's Words Added
Friday, March 20, 2020 at 6:54PM 
Today is a tribute to Kat. I apologize and will play catchup with a gallery tomorrow. We lost Katsura today. See his bio.
He was a magnificent dog who produced some equally magnificent pups. We will miss him. We are so incredibly sad. To take that drive to Brighton was a mighty difficult one.
Kat and his mom, Risa.
Kat's after swim run. He also used to dry himself on a towel. It was a riot!
He always waited for Nathan to swim. It was something only they shared.
He was the first havanese to ever dive into a swimming pool. He was great at it.
At the end, he only wanted to be with me. It didn't matter if I had to groom or had to go to the bathroom, as sick as he was, he had to be with me.
He is one of a kind or he was. Not sure how we will swim without him.
Darlah
We will always, each of us, have our memories of our Kat. Reading some of the notes in response to Darlah’s post I thought I’d offer these few thoughts of my own. Thank you all for your kind wishes. We appreciate each one.
We all learn at some point in our lives to deal with death. The world is falling apart around us with a global Pandemic and here we are mourning the loss of a dog, our Katsura. For those that are not dog people, stop reading now. You won’t understand our grief. I’m writing this to our Talemaker families and to everyone that shares their lives with a dog as a beloved member of their family.
Yesterday afternoon we did the last good thing we could do for the dog that has been a part of our lives for so many years. We put him down. Writing, you cannot tell that tears are falling from my eyes as I type. You can but imagine (if you’ve been there yourselves) the pain and grief Darlah and I felt as we cradled him on his last journey at our side. This was our Kat. We shared so many wonderful memories with him, so many firsts.
He was a champion show dog that loved to strut his stuff.
He was a champion swimmer and loved leaping into the swimming pool with wild abandon so that he could meet me the second I surfaced.
He passed his Good Neighbour certification during a Rottweiler Specialty surrounded by that power breed and couldn’t have cared less as he pranced in, around and between them to come to me on the other side of the ring.
He was always the first to know when any of his girls (and they were all his girls as far as he was concerned) were coming into season and when they were leaving it because he was a stud!
For years he played magnificently with puppies, many of them his own, until one unfortunate time one puppy mistook that thing hanging from his body as a nipple and tried to feed. After he landed back down on the ground having teleported to the ceiling, he never again frolicked with the puppies but always kept a close watch on them out of the corner of his eye.
He loved us all unconditionally, as dogs do, and we love him back the very same way.
May he rest in peace.
Reader Comments (41)
Darlah and Nathan, we are so sorry to hear about Kat. All day, I had a feeling that he would cross the Rainbow Bridge today. No words can express how sad we are. We send our love and strength during this difficult time. Much love from the four of us xo
Oh, even when prepared for bad news, it still hurts so much. What a magnificent dog he was. Our deepest, heartfelt condolences.
Hi Darlah and Nathan, I am so sorry to hear about Kat. He’s a huge loss to your family, and his talemaker family. He is my Stella’s dad . Stella and I are sending lots of love to you,
Just adding to my previous post, Spicy also lost her daddy today, so very sad. He was a wonderful dog.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Talemaker Clan. Kat was an amazing dog. Bailey and I are thinking of you guys and sending hugs and love.
Such sad news! I had a feeling all day that you were going to have to put him Down.
He was a beautiful. Lovely dog!
I told Katie that her dad died today. 😥
Love to you and Nathan
Ruth and Katie xo
Our hearts go out to Darlah, Nathan, Dennis, and the whole Talemaker family. As the true saying goes, “the only thing wrong with dogs is they can’t live forever”. RIP Katsura! ❤️
Our sincerest condolences Darlah, Nathan, Dennis and the Talemaker family. We are all thinking of you. We will miss you Kat.
So deeply sorry to hear about Katsura. He was a beauty in so many ways. I always enjoyed watching on video the swimming games he would play with Nathan. Always so difficult to say goodbye. Our hearts are with you.
Sincerely sorry for your loss!
Katsura was a true champion!
Our 💔's are broken.
Darlarh and Nathan
I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your beautiful Kat today ...
It's not easy ... Thinking of you both
Sending all the strength and lots of love your way
I am very saddened to hear of Katsura’s passing. It is so hard to lose our special dogs. Condolences to you all 😢RIP Katsura🌷
I am so sorry to hear about Kat.. Such a terrible loss and I know nothing can take away that pain and sadness. My thoughts are with your family.
We are so very sorry to hear about Kat’s passing. He was a beautiful dog. Although I never met him I read his bio and he sounds like an amazing dog. I’m sure he will be sorely missed. Losing a dog is never easy but I know he was very lucky to have been a part of the Talemaker experience. Hugs to all of you ❤️
I'm so very sorry for you all. You gave him a wonderful life.My heart goes out to you
Susan, Zoey and Abby
So very sorry to hear this sad news, we will all miss you beautiful Kat.
May he leave a lasting memory in your hearts, Darlah and Nathan, you were wonderful parents to him, he couldn't have asked for any better.
I just caught up with the blogs and saw this. I’m so sorry to hear about Kat. He was Holly’s dad. I was just watching some of Kat’s videos on your website - the ones of him jumping into the pool and playing with the puppies brought a smile to my face. He had a truly magnificent life and he lives on in all the beautiful puppies he sired that have enriched the lives of so many Talemaker families. Our sincere condolences.
I’m so, so sorry to hear this news. All dogs are special, but Kat had an extra special place with me. I’m lucky enough to share my life with one of his extraordinary pups. I can only imagine how difficult it was to make that drive, but loving them means we do what’s right for them, not keep them going for us. My deepest sympathy on your loss
Nathan and Darlah,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Kat. Our sincere condolences to you and your family 💜
What heart breaking News. Condolences to everyone @ Talemaker..Katsura was a special boy.
So very sad to hear of Kats passing.
Our hearts go out to the Talemaker family...
He will be terribly missed by all of you.
Our condolences xo
Nathan and Darlah - my heart aches for you both. The hardest part of bringing these magnificent animals into our lives, families and hearts is knowing their lives are so much shorter than our own. Even when they live a full, healthy and long life, you can’t prepare for the heartache and void when we have to say goodbye. Each one has their own personality, quirks and place in our hearts. Kat will be greatly missed by many. 💕❤️
Very sorry for your loss, Darlah and Nathan. Always the hardest goodbye.
Our deepest sympathies for you loss.
Fiona & Peter
Yes, Darlah, that drive is excruciating. Reunited with Risa 💕
We are deeply saddened by the news of Kat passing. No words of sympathy will ease your pain and the hole in your heart.
I trust that he is in a good place and in good company at the Rainbow Bridge.
You are in our thoughts.
What a beautiful Tribute for beautiful Kat. He was regal and loving. He was Rusty's Dad. Rusty lost two dads in such a short time and my heart goes out to all of you Nathan, Dalah and Dennis and to us, for we too are broken hearted at his loss. He was often in the hall when we came. Beautiful, gentle just like his heirs. He did not live long enough, but how lucky to have such wonderful human parents and all his friends around him everyday. Kat is say thank you to both of you for giving him a great life as he gave you. And I thank you Kat for Rusty, my love of life. You are with your Mom now. RIP.
Dear Darlah and Nathan, So sorry for your loss. Kat was a wonderful dog. I loved watching the videos of him leaping into the pool. He has left you memories that you will cherish forever. Best Wishes to all at Talemaker’s.
I am so heartbroken for you all. Truly. So heartbroken.thinking of you at this difficult and most painful time.
So sorry for your loss. You were right, when it rain it pours. We hope he is in a quiet and happy place.
Ale, Carlos, Kids and Coco
Dear Talemaker family, Kat was an amazing dog, Kat was special. We don’t know what you are going through right now. But we do know it is not easy. Our thoughts are with you.
We’re very sad to hear that Kat has crossed over Rainbow Bridge. 🌈 🐾.
We know your family will miss him dearly and hope your precious memories will be of some comfort.
What a beautiful tribute you have posted in his honour! 🌹
Kat will live on in all your hearts forever and all the special puppies he’s sired for many fortunate families! 💞
I’ve always believed that the greatest act of love is when we put their wishes ahead of ours and help them to enter another life where there is no pain or suffering. 💔
You are in our hearts and daily thoughts at this very difficult time. 🙏
My deepest sympathies, so sorry for your loss, very sad. Kat was a beautiful pup and will be missed💙
We are so very sorry for your loss. Two of our close friends lost their little buddies this week and are devastated. When we hear such sad news it often brings our personal losses back to the surface. In many ways we all grieve together. May wonderful memories help ease the pain.
Darlah & Nathan,
I am thinking of you at this sad time.
Your beautiful Havanese have brought so much joy to so many. Thank you for sharing these wonderful gifts with us. I (along with many others) am sorry to hear of your loss.
Darlah and Nathan, my heart goes out to both of you. Words can’t express how sorry I am for your loss.
Sadly it is never easy to let your sweet baby go.
But Kat left you with a wonderful legacy.
Look up at the stars. There he is!
Look at your pups. There he is!
Look in your heart. There he is!
Happiness abounds in your home. There he is!
That is Kat's gift to you!
A long life lived in love with you.
.
Darlah and Nathan,
Sorry to hear about Kat. Your dogs have brought so much happiness and companionship to so many of us. We have enjoyed reading your blog over the past few years.
Now we are both working from home and it really helps to have the dogs with us. Cali and Fenton gravitate between Chantale's work area and my work area upstairs.
Take care,
Kevin and Chantale
Darlah and Nathan: I am so sorry to hear about Kat. I know how special he was to you both. My heart aches for you truly.
Sending Hugs,
Michelle and Dallas
It was Puppy Socialization 101 video clip I accidentally saw back in 2010 which led us to visit you, and Kat was there to welcome us. We thought it was so cool to meet a beautiful dog named "Kat".
Our hearts break for you Nathan and Darlah, We are all so lucky to be related to the Talemaker clan, and today we all ache for you.
Huge Hug,
Brian & Esther
Glory & Louis xoxoxox
Without Kat, I would never have had Sasha and Ginger. Sasha loves water, a trait I'm very sure came from Kat. Ginger is brave and is always watching.
I'll never forget "meeting" Katsura at one of the puppy picnics, he walked around the yard as if he owned the place. He followed Nathan as though Nathan was the pied piper. I'm sure that your hearts hurt but please know that we so appreciate all the love that you give to each one of your dogs - and that love is reflected right back at you.